The Early History of Porcelain and the Significance of Shufu Ware: Science, Culture, and Material-Based Aesthetics
Date
2019-05
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Abstract
The word “porcelain” does not capture the nuance and complexity inherent to the material and the history of high-fired white ceramics in China that began over a millennium ago. In Euroamerica, the contemporary concept of porcelain is often a manifestation of ideas circulated long ago by kings, mystics, pseudo-scientists, and consumers of foreign goods. The variety of influences has resulted in the concept of porcelain as we know it today, a concept whose definition often seems clear in the abstract, but becomes progressively more difficult when investigating the topic in depth. However, the concept of porcelain is important to cultural histories, both local and global, and the term has been employed in scientific, cultural, and artistic contexts across the world for centuries. As a result, the concept of porcelain has been complicated over time.
This essay will clear the murky waters enveloping porcelain and bái cí by tracing its earliest history in China, where it was first produced. Returning to the source of the porcelain phenomenon will clearly articulate the history and nature of the material as it was initially produced, which has significant implications for both early European conceptions of porcelain and contemporary perspectives. The first step in this process will be naming the beliefs Euromericans must cast aside in order to reform porcelain histories into a more global one.
Description
Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Art History and Theory degree in the School of Art and Design at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY.
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Thesis
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Keywords
Art History and Theory thesis, Porcelain, Shufu Ware